Is Jacob Taylor really an example? I thought the point of Black Best Friend is that the character doesn't get any development beyond "the main character's black best friend". Jacob does get actual development, as much as the other characters in Mass Effect 2.

should close true interracial friendships actually be on the same page as a trope about shallow, potentially-dubious friendships for the purpose of seeming hip? for the moment, I've cut these from the Real Life examples:

• Eminem and Proof were very close friends since childhood. Proof's murder in 2006 was a huge factor in Eminem's Creator Breakdown, and Em dedicated a couple songs to his fallen friend.
• A very touching real life example is the friendship between Chicago Bears teammates Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo. When Sayers was injured, Piccolo helped him with his reabilitation. Not long after Sayers rejoined the team, Piccolo developed lung cancer. Sayers stood by his friend. Sadly, Brian Piccolo passed away from the disease. It inspired the film Brian's Song with James Caan and Billy Dee Williams.